The Pool

Shot with a level of realism we rarely seen in Indian cinema, this film combines sharply engaging characters with an involving story that really gets under the skin. After a series of entertaining documentaries (such as The Yes Men), director-cowriter Smith returns to narrative fiction, but gives himself the challenge of adapting an American short story (by cowriter Russell) to another culture. And with a cast of mostly non-actors, he creates a movie that harks back to Indian classics while telling a thoroughly modern story.

The story takes place in Goa, where 18-year-old Venkatesh (Chavan) does odd jobs in a hotel and sleeps on the lobby floor. When not working, he's running the streets with 11-year-old Jhangir (Badshah), trying to make some extra cash and dreaming about taking a dip in an idyllic pool they watch over a wall. In this oasis, the quiet Nana (Patekar) lives with his surly teen daughter Ayesha (Mohan). And as Venkatesh and Jhangir talk about finding a better life, Venkatesh gets up the nerve to ask Nana for a job.

What happens from here is gentle and realistic, as Venkatesh and Jhangir become friends with Ayesha, and Nana asks Venkatesh if he wants to move to Bombay with them. But there are all kinds of other things going on here that keep the film from ever being predictable. When Venkatesh travels home to see his family in the countryside, we see his responsibilities in striking contrast to his free-spirited life in the city. And there's also the added wrinkle that Nana sees Venkatesh as a kind of replacement for his late son.

Filmmaker Smith keeps everything so matter-of-fact that we can't help but identify with each of the characters as they try to plot their way through life. They're all beautifully written, and played with a loosely improvised style by the cast. Even veteran actor Patekar sheds his starry image for a beautifully offhanded performance. And as the connections between the characters grow and stretch and are strained to the breaking point, what's most remarkable is how easy it is to see ourselves in them.

Rich Cline